Florida Tech Panthers Pay Visit to Familiar Foes This Weekend

The volleyball team is in high spirits following its dominating performance against Sunshine State Conference provisional member Embry-Riddle on Tuesday night at the Clemente Center. (FIT Image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The volleyball team is in high spirits following its dominating performance against Sunshine State Conference provisional member Embry-Riddle on Tuesday night at the Clemente Center.

Florida Tech (11-10, 2-7 SSC) hopes to continue its impressive play in its return trip to South Florida this weekend in its matches against conference foes Lynn and Nova Southeastern.

The Panthers exacted revenge in their 3-0 sweep of ERAU on Tuesday, as the Eagles defeated FIT 3-1 earlier in the campaign on Sept. 18.

Jenna Schaffer led FIT with 11 kills and five digs and Alea Hamm continued her strong presence at the net with three blocks to go along with nine kills on a team-high attack percentage of .562.

Ashtin Truesdale

Kiersten Rosa

Ashtin Truesdale and Kiersten Rosa each recorded double-doubles in the match with each finishing with 10 digs in addition to 20 assists and 15 assists, respectively. Becca Bower, who returned from injury to start at libero for the first time in three matches, notched a match-high 22 digs.

FIT will look to continue its momentum throughout the final three weeks of the season, but it will have a tough task on its hands in this weekend’s contests.

Lynn (12-9, 3-6 SSC) heads into Friday match with FIT fresh off two consecutive contests versus Top 15 programs. The Fighting Knights knocked off the nation’s then, No. 1-ranked team, Tampa, at home on Saturday 3-2, but were unable to repeat the performance in their next outing against No. 14 Palm Beach Atlantic, falling to the Sailfish on Tuesday 3-1.

Lydia West leads LU with 170 kills and is second on the team in blocks, with 58. Claire Angelich has been the most effective Fighting Knight at the net this season, compiling a team-best attack percentage of .330 in addition to her 147 kills and team-high 74 blocks.

Marissa Tandron has 730 assists so far this season, while Kate Knight leads with 305 digs and 35 service aces.

The Panthers hold a 3-to-2 edge over Lynn since 2013, including a straight-sets victory this season on Sept. 26.

Since starting the season 10-1, Nova Southeastern (14-9, 5-5 SSC) has struggled over the last month. Prior to its home match with No. 17 Florida Southern this Friday, the Sharks have lost two straight versus SSC rivals Tampa (3-0) and Barry (3-1).

NSU is paced offensively by Dana Holger, who has the third most kills in the SSC with 305. Katie Pyles dished out 782 assists this season and Kaelyn Brock has collected 291 digs for the Sharks. Four NSU players have accumulated more than 40 blocks led by 65 and 57 from Devyn Main and Caitlin Donahue, respectively.

Over the last three seasons, the Sharks hold the advantage in the series with the Panthers, winning three of the last five contests, including a 3-1 decision earlier this season on Sept. 25 in Melbourne.

The Panthers match against Lynn starts at 7 p.m. ET on Friday at the de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center in Boca Raton, Florida. Saturday’s meeting with the Sharks is set for 4 p.m. at the NSU Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.